Being a safe driver means being fully alert and awake behind the wheel in order to safely navigate your vehicle to your destination. Being alert means not being distracted by a text, phone call, or even music. It also means not driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. While we have harped on avoiding distracted driving and driving intoxicated, today we set a keen eye on driving sleep deprived. Many employees around the country wake up in the wee hours of the morning to make a long commute, and are drowsy once they get into their vehicle as they fight to stay awake on the road. According to the The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 100,000 police-reported crashes are related to driver fatigue every year. ABC News reports that drowsy driving is the second leading cause of fatal vehicle accidents in the United States behind only drunk driving. According to sleep researchers at the Liberty Mutual Research, about 250,000 Americans drive while sleep-deprived every single day. Researchers say that most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night, so try your best to do so. If you are in a situation where that is simply not feasible, drink some coffee or another caffeinated beverage to stay alert. Remember, that if you are driving sleep-deprived you are not only putting yourself in danger, but the lives of innocent others.